Sitting at the Bench

[sunshine_keys]

So I tend to have the bench pulled back farther then usual..or what some people say is farther than usual. It's just what feels right for me.. I can reach the pedal fine and then I have space to move if I need/want to.

my grandma who has played piano said that she thought maybe it was putting too much weight on my arms or something, which was making it harder for me to play... something like that.

Do you know if it makes a difference how/where you sit?

[roseamelia]

For some people it is but if doesn't bother you then your OK..

[ajspiano]

Yes it makes a difference. - it will become more and more noticeable as you play more advanced music. For example, I tend slouch a lot..  I avsolutely can not play the heroic polonaise with that kind of posture.

[sunshine_keys]

So do I need to change the way I'm sitting? like start sitting closer?

[ajspiano]

So do I need to change the way I'm sitting? like start sitting closer?

Since you said it feels right for you I doubt you should change it. You can experiment if you like, but i'd be telling you to find what feels right in that case and you say you've already got that

Sometimes people sit in a bad position for a long time, as in years of practicing, and this results in them being comfortable and it "feels right" for them in that position. I doubt this is you though..

If you have difficultly playing no matter how much practice you do, or you start to feel uncomfortable, fatigued or in pain, thats when you should check on how your sitting.

[werq34ac]

I tend to sit far back on the bench too. However, I don't slouch at all. My back is in it's natural shape which it should be when you play piano. I feel like sitting too close would make one slouch more than usual while if it's too far back you would tend to lean forward. The keys are too close so you slouch in order to move back your shoulders.

I've been told that you should sit on 1/3-1/4 of the bench when you play piano. Any more than that and your feet won't be providing enough support when you play.

Instead of how close you sit, you should experiment with bench height if you can. Having a bench that is too high will put weight on your arms and hands which might be uncomfortable to play with. On the other hand if it's too low, you will begin to raise your shoulders which will tense you up.

Find the right bench height first, then sit at a distance where you are well supported by your feet and have a straight back. But keep in mind they are directly related to each other. I find for unadjustable benches that are too high I have to move further back in order to maintain a straight back and comfortability at the piano. Of course there's only so much "wiggle room" for adjusting to high benches.


Which brings me to a rant.
WHY THE HELL DO THEY MAKE UNADJUSTABLE BENCHES WAY TOO HIGH? Like seriously some of these benches only a little kid could play comfortably on. I've had benches so high that my thighs have been squished between the piano and the bench. I mean if it were lower, you could just put books on it or something to make it higher but NOOO piano bench makers have to make them ridiculously high for everyone. And I'm not even that tall, only 5'6" and these benches are still way too high (oh yeah, the taller you are, the lower your bench has to be).

Okay rant done.

[outin]

I have also had problems with finding a good distance to play. I think I have unusually long arms and legs compared to my height. I only feel comfortable when I sit quite far so that my arms feel free to move. At lessons I think I sit too close, since I have problems keeping my wrists straight and shoulders down. At home it's much easier. I just don't seem to realize it before the lesson is over...

[roseamelia]

I have my bench I think maybe a foot away or a few inches. I don't know. But I haven't had a prob.

[ajspiano]

At lessons I think I sit too close, since I have problems keeping my wrists straight and shoulders down. At home it's much easier. I just don't seem to realize it before the lesson is over...

  doesnt your teacher tell you??

[sunshine_keys]

Thanks everyone!

it's not that my legs are long or my arms are long. lol. I'm 4'10"........if that gives you any idea. lol.

I always adjust the bench exactly the way it feels best. like at my recital I didn't want to adjust the bench.. dunno why. but it tottallyyy messed me up. it was way to close. I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't be causing problems or something.

The height might have something to do with it now that I think about it... my bench isn't adjustable or anything and atm I don't think I'll be getting a new one. I can play perfectly fine with the one I have.. so it's not hindering my practicing/playing any.

[outin]

doesnt your teacher tell you??

Yes, of course she does, and I can correct my arm/hand posture, but it just does not feel as comfortable and natural as it does at home. The forced feeling I get is probably not so much visible but I can still feel the difference myself. I do have issues with my joints, so I feel I need to have my arms (elbows) quite straight to feel comfortable. But I do need to wait a while and see first if this is just an issue of playing with bad posture before and getting adjusted.

Modified: Maybe I should add that I also have scoliosis. This makes it a bit complicated for me to find a good position to play. To avoid tension in the upper body and get the shoulders level I need to use my left leg to compensate for the back issue. So I will never be able to have "text book" posture anyway. I might have trouble using both pedals, but fortunately the left one is not needed that often...